Rheumatoid Arthritis Support Group

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic, inflammatory, multisystem, autoimmune disorder. It is a disabling and painful condition which can lead to substantial loss of mobility due to pain and joint destruction. The disease is also systemic in that it often also affects many extra-articular tissues throughout the body including the skin, blood vessels, heart, lungs, and...

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Update - now on MTX

nomorera
nomorera
I tried Sulfasalazine and I had a reaction within a week. Mouth sores and horrible itching. I agreed to try MTX. My Rheumy (God bless her) also discussed the possibility of biologics with me. If the MTX fails then she will pre-authorize it with my insurance co. I found out my insurance has special provisions for specialty drugs (starting 2013) and then the Dr says we can send a request to have the drug maker pick up some of the cost. So the saga continues but i am more hopeful today.
I am in a lot of pain and 5 days on Prednisone with little relief. Waiting for the MTX to kick in might be tough but I sure hope it works. Something has to. I finally had to concede that because I watch Grey's Anatomy I am NOT a Dr....lol

Hope you all have a blessed Sunday!
deleted_user
deleted_user
Good luck to you... I've heard some people do really well with MTX...
deleted_user
deleted_user
Good luck with the MTX... when I was on it, it made a huge difference in week #3. Hope it works that fast for you.
lynnedavidson3
lynnedavidson3
MTX helps a lot of people. I started taking it about a year ago, quickly followed by a biologic. I really like it. There can be some side effects, but if you take folic acid, and give your body a chance to adjust to the medication, it can really help a lot.
nomorera
nomorera
thanks for your support. I am having a lot of pain in my feet even though the doc has me on 15 mg pred right now and an anti-inflammatory. I hope this MTX starts working I have a graduation to attend out of state next weekend and I'm wearing a dress and I hope to be able to wear heels. I think I'd better go shopping for dressy flats. Yesterday I could barely walk and I can't take that chance next weekend. Yes I must go shopping!!! lol
ILoveHuskies
ILoveHuskies
If MTX does not work for you there is Arava
bcatz
bcatz
MTX helped me regain about 70% normalcy. It was "good enough" for most things, yet I couldn't run regularly and I'd have an off day here or there. When Enbrel was added and then taken alone, I was probably 97% normal.

It took the MTx about 12 weeks to work for me. And because I felt so much better, I was sad it didn't work 100%. In retrospect, if my liver had just hung in there, I'd have been fine with the 70% and weight loss to take pressure off foot joints.

I wish you complete success! And beautiful heels!
nomorera
nomorera
thanks everyone. I went in today for a shot of cortisterioid. The pain and swelling in my feet became too much and the prednisone didn't touch it. I am starting to feel relief already. Hopefully by the time this injection wears off (up to 6 wks) the mtx will be working. Now I start the prednisone taper. 2nd dose mtx on Saturday.

Maybe heels after all on Sunday!!!